- The UK’s education sector exported £23.3 billion in 2018, as
Government aims to reach £35 billion in education exports by
2030.
- The UK EdTech market is projected to reach £3.4bn in 2021
- Export Minister visits West Midlands school to showcase role
sector can play in post-pandemic recovery and how government is
supporting its exports
The UK’s thriving education sector exported £23.3 billion in 2018
and Government is supporting the sector to boost the figure to
hit £35 billion a year by the end of the decade, via a wide range
of new initiatives including a new Export Academy, financial
support and a range of missions, ‘meet the buyer’ events and
webinars.
In particular, the UK’s leading Education Technology (EdTech)
market is projected to reach £3.4bn in 2021 as it helps students
and teachers navigate new ways of learning throughout the
pandemic.
There are approximately 1,000 EdTech businesses in the UK,
providing an exciting range of cutting-edge solutions, making it
easier for pupils to study remotely and benefit from innovative,
interactive learning.
The UK leads the European EdTech market, attracting over $1bn in
investment since 2014, more than the next 3 countries combined.
Minister for Exports Graham Stuart saw first-hand how EdTech is
supporting young learners during his visit to Shireland
Collegiate Academy in Sandwell today to explore the school’s
digital offer.
The Academy has developed eduu.school, the first fully mapped
thematic curriculum that integrates wellbeing in collaboration
with educational publisher Hodder Education, mental health
partner Kooth and Wrexham-based company Gluu, who work with
schools and leading EdTech companies to provide students and
teachers with the tech tools they need to learn and teach
anytime, anywhere.
Minister for Exports , said:
“With education exports reaching £23.3 billion in 2018, I’m proud
to lead the Department for International Trade’s education work,
which has become all the more important during the pandemic.
“The UK offers world-class education, a global reputation and a
strong presence in international markets with education exports,
such as EdTech. British education is in demand around the world.
Be it for skills training in Vietnam, Higher Education in Brazil
or English Language Training in Japan, DIT provides a range of
support options for education providers looking to expand
internationally.
“It was great to see British innovation at play at Shireland and
I look forward to working with EdTech businesses to ensure the
UK’s world-renowned education industry builds back better by
exporting our brilliant goods, services, skills and innovation
across the globe.”
Chief Executive Officer, GLUU, Christine Major
said:
“Today’s event has been a powerful example of what can be
achieved when schools and industry collaborate in shared goal
partnerships to create and scale authentic solutions that can
transfer directly from British to international classrooms.
“Education exports are far more than selling products, it’s about
sharing classroom practice and creating a truly Great British
education experience globally.”
The government is committed to supporting sector’s exports
overseas in key priority markets including Indonesia; India;
Saudi Arabia; Nigeria; Brazil; Mexico; Pakistan; Vietnam; and the
UAE.
DIT is already helping UK education providers tap into
international opportunities via its network of International
Trade Advisors, education specialists and a newly launched Export
Academy. These initiatives will help to position UK education
providers as the partner of choice and help investors and
partners overseas to find UK providers.
Demand internationally is growing for UK products particularly in
Asia with the region set to be home to the 66% of the global
middle classes by 2030, hungry for high quality British goods and
services.
By tapping into international demand, UK businesses can unlock
new customers and sales in markets around the world.
Exports contribute billions into the UK economy, supporting
millions of jobs and providing sustainable growth for thousands
of businesses.
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Earlier this year, the government updated its 2019 International
Education Strategy to reaffirm commitments to meet two
important ambitions set out in the original report: increase
education exports to £35bn per year and increase the number of
international higher education students studying in the UK to
600,000 per year.
- A new webpage at www.great.gov.uk/education
brings together DIT’s offer for education providers, where they
can learn about demand for British Education from countries in
Europe to the Middle East, to Asia and Latin America.
- Approximately 1,000 EdTech businesses provide an exciting
range of cutting-edge products and solutions. [Source:
Edtechnology.co.uk]
- UK leads the European EdTech market, attracting over $1bn in
investment since 2014, more than the next 3 countries combined.
[Source: Dealroom.co]
- UK EdTech start-ups attracted 41% of all European investment
in 2019 with investment in UK EdTech rising 91% on 2018. In
contrast investment in the US fell by 12% and European investment
grew just by 8%. [Source: Tech Nation’s Data Commons]